The butler introduced herself as Rose. She was inquisitive. She asked, "You said that you killed your previous captors. Why should I believe you when you say you won't do that to us?" I paused, "Because everyone I loved was murdered by a bunch of environmental activists. I have a gaping hole in my heart. That has disappeared since I came here. I used to swan dive into my work and charity because it kept me from falling apart. These people didn't even spare my four month old son. They just sprayed the place with bullets. Only stopping when they were certain they were dead. I have nothing to live for. I am taking this episode as a new chapter of my life. Let's see where this takes me." She stared at me for a moment and served me hot cocoa. She wanted to know more about my life. Particularly my captivity. I made it clear. Previously I had a family or something that I wanted to escape from. Now this is my escape. I have nowhere else to go. I promised to stay till my stay is no longer welcome. I have had many opportunities to escape so far. I also had many opportunities to kill them both but I didn't. Because I feel safe here. She stared at me weirdly. She wanted to say something but she heard a notice. She looked out the window and told me to stay here. She has to oversee the cleaning crew as they tidy up the house. She asked me which book I wanted to read. I answered, "Be spontaneous and pick one" she raised an eyebrow. She scanned the nearest shelf and pick a random book. She told me to enjoy the read as she disappeared.
I sat in the wheelchair reading the cookbook written in braille. I kept my eyes closed. As I ran my fingers over the embossed dots. I heard the door creak and the light gust of wind. I opened my eyes to see a man in a cleaner's uniform searching for the place. I picked up the small bell used to summon Rose and rang it. He jumped up as Rose walked in. I pointed out, "I think he lost his way to the bathroom." She thanked me as she ushered him out. She was apprehensive about my stay. One of the workers decided that he wasn't going to take orders from a woman. He waited till the end of his shift. He tried to assault her and I smacked in the back of his head with the heaviest object I could lift. As he fell to the floor Rose got up and thanked me. To my recommendation she found the manager who hired him and filed a complaint. The police took him into custody. The man was told by the supervisor to rethink his life choices. As he was being shoved into the car. The manager assured Rose he will handover his uniform and find a job elsewhere. The guy who had snuck into the library decided to kidnap me. His response was, "You are trapped in that mansion. I am going to set you free." I told him that I needed to go to the bathroom so he stopped somewhere in the forest. He was taking a smoke break. I quietly walk back to the manor. She was amused by my tenacity. She realized my honest interest in staying here. I had the perfect opportunity to leave and yet I came back willingly. She was nicer afterwards.
James was grinning like a fool as he sat down for dinner. Rose had called to tell him everything. She asked me how I learnt to carve humans. I replied between mouthful, "My father catered to a cannibal. My uncle was a butcher so he made me carve everything from deer to people. He said it was life skills" Rose was curious and so were James, "Do serial killers know other serial killers?" I grimaced, "We don't have a support group. We don't have a club. We bump into each other by accident. We set rules so we can continue killing and sometimes offer alibis. Sometimes we exchange victims. I remember meeting eight different serial killers that were friends with dad while he was living. And four at his funeral. I systemically killed all of them. Like I said. I take out the scum of the earth so the rest can make the world a better place. The serial killers as far as I knew were my brother Adam and my cousin Gus. I did find out by accident the existence of an angel of death. He was my friend Brody a doctor who was helping me normalize my life so I would stop killing. He was angry that I had killed someone in his hospital. Another serial killer who apparently was given the death sentence but given a second to kill with government permission. He was brought in for something. I used the hospital's blindspots to get to his room. I enjoyed ending him. Brody was pissed. I asked him to prove I killed him but he couldn't so he apologized. I found out he was a killer after I was hospitalized last year when a sniper opened fire. I had pushed my partner out of harm's way"
Both were speechless. I grimaced, "I was forbidden to have a signature. I was told in order to avoid jail time and the death penalty I must avoid forming a pattern. This information which the FBI profiler is able to figure out how to trap us. The oldest I have killed is ninety years and the youngest is fifteen. They are of all ethnicity, religion and occupation. Twenty plus years of systemic killing and I still wish I could find a happily ever after. Part of my subconscious tells me the murder of my family was the universe fighting back for the people whom I have taken away. I think it was just the wrong place at the wrong time." Rose inquired, "Did you have children?" I answered, "First were twins they both had Cystic Fibrosis. Lung disease. They lived to go to first grade. They died in a plane crash. DD was missing and assumed dead. I married Gus and we adopted my neighbor's daughter after I caught her father sexual abuse her. He was a cop and taking him down was no mean feat. I remember getting ready to go to the beach. I got the call from the social worker. I was given full custody. I came home and there was Gus with stupid grin on his face. He was pleased his friend took his advice. I remember yelling 'It was you' he fell to the floor and refused to stop laughing. When Henry my husband's security asked why he retorted 'I just remembered something. Tom Ford was the one to establish the nine to five working hours. Someone wrote in the comments 'It was you'. Both of them had a laugh" I took a deep breath, "Cheryl was a sweet girl with a bright future. I remember once she came over to ask me if I could help her with her homework. The words on the website were as follows 'I am not going to say the web ate the notes you were searching for but take a moment to admire this cutie. There was baby with chubby cheeks with dimples. I wanted to adopt the baby. I hot DD back and I had my latest baby. It was amazing till those maniacs gunned them down. Cheryl lived long enough to go to the hospital. She died in the observation room."
Both laughed at the website joke. Rose commented, "Cheryl was very lucky to have you as a foster mom. But who is DD?" I blushed, "DD was my favorite husband. His name is Daniel Dalton. DD means Darling Dearest. I read it in a novel and always dreamt of using it. When I met him I knew he was the only one who fits the bill. My previous husband would be furious at the mere mention of DD. He once karate chopped a desk. One half landed on the chief's foot and he was chained to the desk for ages." I heard a crack and looked up to see James had squeezed too hard and the glass tumbler broke piercing his hand with several shards. Rose got the first aid kit and I cleaned his wound. James made it very clear, "Your life has changed. So for better or worse I forbid you to mention your ex-husbands ever again. I am sorry about your children. If you want I can provide you with as many children as you please but I forbid you from leaving me. I forbid you from contacting them either." I shrugged, "I married three men. Two are dead and the other is in prison for manslaughter. I can happily shut up about it. I just need a hobby. I used to paint but now I am unable to do anything. I am bored so my mind likes to wander. Can you get me some canvases and a few other items? I promise to forget my past and make you my future." He looked me in the eye and promised to get me whatever I needed in the morning. Rose was told to open one of the vacant rooms.